Cartier has always been committed to supporting and mentoring young people through its training programmes and initiatives designed to nurture the next generation of talent. Each year, the Cartier Prize for Watchmaking Talents of Tomorrow invites young watchmakers to transform a movement around a defined theme, rewarding both technical and creative ingenuity.

“Since it was founded in 1847, Cartier has never stopped passing down and promoting its savoir- faire, whilst also developing new skills in keeping with its traditions of excellence. The Watchmaking Prize, introduced by the Maison in 1995, embodies this vision and this drive, with the aim of inspiring and ensuring the next generation of watchmakers. Today, we are delighted to see that this Prize is helping to bring new watchmaking talent to the fore, and we are proud to support them,” said Karim Drici, Chief Operating Officer.

On 24 June 2026, the Cartier Prize for Watchmaking Talents of Tomorrow ceremony celebrated the excellence and creativity of eleven young watchmaking apprentices and technicians from France, Switzerland and Belgium.

For the 28th edition of the Prize, entrants were asked to create a piece based on the motion of a pendulum, on the theme “Shifting the balance: Reading and understanding time differently”, or how to move beyond our traditional approach to understanding time. This creative vision lies at the heart of Cartier’s watchmaking world, as evidenced by the mystery clocks, the Révélation d’une Panthère watch, the Santos Dumont Rewind and the Tank à Guichets.

After being initially selected based on sketches, texts and video presentations, the 12 finalists were given eighty hours over three months to turn their vision into reality, supported by their mentors. Their talent has given rise to unique creations that showcase their technical prowess and bold creativity, thereby opening up new avenues of exploration and offering a fresh perspective on time.

For the first time, the ceremony was held at the Maison des Métiers d’Art in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, a venue dedicated to the artisanal craftsmanship involved in watchmaking. Founded in 2014, the Maison des Métiers d’Art was born of Cartier’s desire to share, preserve and develop a range of rare artistic crafts that are at risk of disappearing. The Maison des Métiers d’Art brings together watchmaking and jewellery through rare artistic crafts such as enamelling and marquetry. A true ecosystem of expertise, talent and craftsmanship, it fosters dialogue between heritage and cutting- edge technology.

The event was hosted by Eléonor Picciotto, a presenter and watchmaking expert. The 2026 jury comprised:

• Roy Davidoff, specialist in vintage watches and co-founder of Roy & Sacha Davidoff SA
• Pascale Lepeu, Director of the Cartier Collection
• Nathalie Marielloni, Curator at the Musée international d’horlogerie
• Pascal Ravessoud, Vice-President of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, watchmaking specialist and collector
• Kari Voutilainen, independent watchmaker

Following the deliberations, six winners were selected: 3 watchmaking apprentices and 3 technicians. Each winner will enjoy an exclusive immersion within the Maison and will receive a Cartier watch. The first-prize winner in each category will also be offered an internship opportunity with the Maison.

In the “Apprentice Watchmakers” category, 1st prize was awarded to Aymeric Peters from IATA, in Namur, Belgium, for Silence Choisi (Chosen Silence). "Silence Choisi is a clock that suspends time rather than measuring it. Inspired by clocks from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it captures the elegance of their materials and the precision of their proportions. Its architecture evokes a classic, almost familiar object, while introducing a radically different way of telling time. Its hands, stopped at 6 o’clock, remain motionless, as if frozen in silent anticipation. Time does not exist until it is summoned. The mechanism is set in motion by the action of a key: a system releases the pins, and the hands return to their correct positions. Just like a split- seconds chronograph, time is held back, then released in an instant, in a mechanical interplay that is simultaneously precise and poetic.”

Second prize ex-aequo was awarded to Layla Sluysmans from the IATA in Namur, Belgium, for Nymphéa (Nymphaea). “The word”nymphaea“is the scientific term for the water lily, whose bloom lasts only a few days.” The one you are looking at, however, will last for as long as humanity wills it. Nymphéa is a mechanical water lily that opens and closes over a two-hour cycle. The petals are crafted in resin, and the base is made of Mexican ebony. The enamel dial is revealed only once the petals have opened. Once open, the sleek and understated dial appears. A subtle detail allows you to identify the 12 o’clock marker. These markers are in fact visible elements of the mechanism itself. Through these choices, the piece encourages the viewer to slow down in a world that moves all too quickly. Remember: time reveals itself only to those who take the time to observe it. "

The joint second prize recognised the work of Edouard Nicod, from the Lycée Edgar Faure in Morteau, France, entitled: La Dualité Des Opposés (The Duality of Opposites). “The duality of opposites is a table clock that explores the notion of balance, reinterpreting watchmaking codes to offer a new perspective on time. Traditional roles are reversed: the dial becomes the structure, the hand stands still, and the movement becomes visible and mobile. Suspended in space, the mechanical heart takes centre stage. It embodies an equilibrium born of the tension between movement and stillness. Energy and silence respond to one another in a subtle harmony. This duality is expressed through a sleeping Panthère, positioned as a counterweight. Calm and still, the panther balances the constantly moving mechanism. The whole piece relies on a delicate yet essential balance. The slightest disturbance could disrupt the harmony. This timepiece invites us to seek a sense of balance, a source of elegance and serenity."

For Technicians, Arthur Choquet, from the Lycée Jean Jaurès in Rennes, France, won first prize with his creation Un Instant (A Moment). “Un Instant invites us to measure time during a suspended moment. With its architecture inspired by the Haussmann style found in the City of Lights, this timepiece restores Paris to its role as the historic cradle of Cartier’s craftsmanship. These references appear in the background in the form of building façades and traditional Parisian streetlamps. This new way of understanding time creates a dialogue between the imbalance of movement and the passing of time. The resulting tension, combined with an historical reminder, expresses a transition towards the future. "

Second prize goes to Adam Deroche from Lycée Diderot, in Paris, France, for Médusée (Transfixed). “What if time stood still?” What if this moment, suspended in a single breath, stretched on forever? Médusée is a table clock designed as an invitation to refocus on the present, which is all too often overlooked amidst the past and the future. Its unconventional shape, a combination of an officer’s pocket watch and melting ice, suggests movement - even though everything appears frozen. The hands, motionless at 10:10, give the impression that the clock is not working, but in fact, it is the numerals that move to align themselves with the hands. Created through a combination of techniques involving ceramics, enamel, resin and watchmaking decoration, it combines traditional craftsmanship with innovation. Its name, inspired by Medusa—the mythological figure whose gaze turns people to stone—and the almost immortal jellyfish (known as a méduse in French), symbolises a paradox between stillness and perpetual motion. "

The jury awarded third prize to Adrien Stefenelli from the Lycée Jean Jaurès in Rennes, France, for Echo. “Echo is an imposing work that plays with balance, time and sound.” This timepiece invites us to perceive time differently; far from being a simple timer, it has neither hands nor dial, instead replaced by a chime that sounds at set intervals. It evokes the delicate sound of a drop of water falling onto the base. With this information alone, the user can enjoy the moment without worrying about what lies ahead. He or she is no longer constrained by anticipating the future. The layout creates a sense of imbalance and suspension. The solid block appears almost liquid, despite the strength of its materials, creating a sense of tension where a single drop of water could alter what is otherwise a truly rigid structure."

The Cartier Prize for Watchmaking Talents of Tomorrow was set up in 1995 on the initiative of the Cartier Watchmaking Institute. Each year, this unique prize invites young watchmaking talents to transform a movement based on a set theme, rewarding both technical and creative ingenuity.

Originally open to third- and fourth-year watchmaking students in initial vocational training, the Prize has, since 2024, been extended to a new category of candidates: ES-qualified microtechnology technicians of an advanced vocational training programme in France, Germany, Switzerland or Belgium. At the end of the awards ceremony, the top three winners in each category are presented with their awards. Over the past 25 years, more than 2,000 candidates have entered the competition. Applications for the 29th edition of the Prize will open next autumn.